Amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device featuring a moving vehicle provided with projections to which figurines may be attached in varying formations to amuse the child, each of the figurines including sidewalls spaced apart defining a cavity, the sidewalls terminating downwardly in an opening and upwardly in a top member, the top member of each figurine and each of the vehicle projections being complementary in configuration with respect to the opening of each figurine permitting each of the projections to be inserted within each of the openings at the bottom of the figurines and the top portions of each of the figurines to be inserted within the openings within the bottoms of each of the figurines so as to extend within the cavities of the figurines, the figurines further being provided with arms extending outwardly from the sidewalls, each of the arms including a female portion and a male portion complementary in configuration thereto permitting the male portion of each of the figurines to be inserted within the female portion of an adjacent figurine in such manner that the figurines may be stacked sideways.

United States Patent 1 Nagasaka [111 3,740,895 1 June 26, 1973 AMUSEMENT DEVICE [75] Inventor: Yoshizo Nagasaka, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Ltd.,

Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: July 20,1972

21 Appl. No.: 273,672

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner.l. Q. Lever Att0rneyl-larry John Staas et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An amusement device featuring a moving vehicle provided with projections to which figurines may be attached in varying formations to amuse the child, each of the figurines including sidewalls spaced apart defining a cavity, the sidewalls terminating downwardly in an opening and upwardly in a top member, the top member of each figurine and each of the vehicle projections being complementary in configuration with respect to the opening of each figurine permitting each of the projections to be inserted within each of the openings at the bottom of the figurines and the top portions of each of the figurines to be inserted within the openings within the bottoms of each of the figurines so as to extend within the cavities of the figurines, the figurines further being provided with arms extending outwardly from the sidewalls, each of the arms including a female portion and a male portion complementary in configuration thereto permitting the male portion of each of the figurines to be inserted within the female portion of an adjacent figurine in such manner that the figurines may be stacked sideways.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures AMUSEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the general class of toys in which a movable vehicle is provided with a plurality of dolls, figurines or blocks which may be stacked in various formations to amuse the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The vehicle is a motor cycle provided with two generally cylindrical projections onto which a series of hollow figurines may be positioned. The figurines are designed to be stacked vertically and horizontally permitting the child to construct a wide variety of formations. The interest of the child is maintained since the overall appearance of the toy may be changed at will. Moreover, by varying the formation of the assembled figurines, the operation of the moving vehicle may be varied permitting, for example, the motor cycle to travel on its rear wheel only or to travel in circles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the toy motor cycle vehicle with the figurines stacked vertically and horizontally in one of a wide variety of possible formations;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with a portion of the outer casing of the toy vehicle removed so as to expose the mechanism for operating same;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section illustrating the construction of each figurine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of adjacent arms of adjacent figurines illustrating the interlocking structure permitting the figurines to be stacked horizontally;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one of the figurines and a wheel which may be inserted within the cavity of the figurine so as to provide longitudinal stability to the vehicle when the figurines are stacked so as to extend a substantial distance from the toy motor cycle vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating another formation of stacked figurines;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating still another formation of stacked figurines; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view illustrating a still further formation of stacked figurines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The composite toy motor cycle vehicle and stacked figurines is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The vehicle 12, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, consists of a chassis 14 within which are suitably mounted front and rear wheels 16 and 18, respectively. The reference numeral 20 designates a miniature electric motor suitably powered by battery 22. The shaft of the motor 20 terminates in a gear wheel 24 which meshes with and drives the gear wheel 26 suitably mounted for rotation about a shaft 28 journaled within the chassis 14. The gear wheel 26 is further provided with a smaller gear wheel 30 which meshes with and drives a gear wheel 32 mounted for rotation with the shaft 34. The shaft 34 additionally includes a gear wheel 36 mounted to rotate therewith which meshes with the teeth 38 formed as an integral part of the rear wheel 18. As will be apparent, as the motor 20 is energized by the battery 22 through conventional wiring, not shown, the gear wheel 24 mounted at the end of the shaft of the motor 20 drives the gear wheel 26 which rotates the smaller gear wheel 30 which, in turn, meshes with and drives the gear wheel 32 which, in turn, rotates the shaft 34 to which the gear wheel 36 is attached. The rotating gear wheel 36 meshes with the teeth 38 of the rear wheel 18 rotating same so as to propel the toy motor cycle vehicle 12 along a surface.

The battery 22 is enclosed within a casing 40 which may be removed by rotation, when necessary to replace the source of electrical energy. The casing 40 and the member 41 are cylindrical in configuration serving as projectionsover which the figurines may be positioned.

The figurines are designated generally by reference numeral 42, and, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, comprise four sidewalls 44 defining therebetween a cavity being generally square in cross section. The bottoms of the sidewalls define an opening 46. Formed as a part of the sidewalls 44 are webs 50 which, as seen in FIG. 3, are tapered to progressively extend further into the cavity defined between the sidewalls 44. The figurines 44 further include a top comprising a wall 52 generally circular in cross section and terminating upwardly in a generally hemispherical tip 54.

As will now be apparent, the bottom of each of the figurines 42 may be inserted over the top portion of each of the figurines 42. As the bottom of a figurine 42 is pressed downwardly over the top of an adjacent figurine 42, the wall 52 of the top is pressed tightly into engagement with the tapered web 50 of the bottom of the adjacent figurine 42. Thus, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the figurines 42, 42A and 428 may be stacked vertically. In similar manner, the figurines 42 may be fitted over the battery casing 40 or the other projection 41 of the toy vehicle 10, such as illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the figurine 42C is positioned on the battery housing 40.

Horizontal stacking of the figurines 42 is permitted by the interlocking arms 56 illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Two of the sidewalls 44 are provided with the interlocking arms 56 which comprise male and female portions 58 and 60, respectively. The inner surfaces of the female portion 60 include tapered sidewalls 62 permitting the generally cylindrical male portion 58 of the adjacent figurines 42 to be inserted therein in progressively tighter fitting relationship. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the interlocking arms 56 permit adjacent figurines 42D and 42E to be stacked horizontally.

Additional support to the moving composite 10 of the toy motor cycle 12 and the formation of figurines 42 may be provided by the wheel generally designated by reference numeral 64 in FIG. 5. As will be apparent, the upper generally cylindrical portion 66 of the wheel 64 is designed to be wedged within the bottom of the figurines 42.

A variety of formations or configurations of the figurines 42 may be achieved. In FIG. 6, the figurines 42B and 42F build outwardly in a generally horizontal direction from the main figurine 42C which may be mounted on either of the projections 40 and 41 of the vehicle 12. In FIG. 7, the figurines 42 are assembled as in FIG. 6 but rotated about their interlocking arms 56 permitting the terminal figurines 42G and 42H to extend rearwardly. If it is desired to continue extending the figurines 42 rearwardly of the vehicle 12, one of the last, trailing figurines 42 may be provided with the wheel 64 in such manner as to provideadditional support, and, indeed, may permit the vehicle 12 to travel solely on its rear wheel 18 as the front wheel 16 extends upwardly in the air. In FIG. 8 is illustrated a still further formation in which both horizontal and vertical stacking is disclosed,

It will be further apparent that all of the figurines 42 may be stacked to one side of the vehicle 12. In such a formation, the vehicle 12 will travel in circles about the wheel 64 positioned within one of the trailing figurines 42. Indeed, virtually an unlimited array of formations is possible with the figurines of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device, comprising:

a vehicle provided with front and rear wheels, a motor, means operatively connecting one of said wheels and said motor, said vehicle further being provided with a projection, a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks being provided with sidewalls defining a cavity therebetween, the bottoms of said sidewalls defining an opening adjoining said cavity, each of said blocks further including a top portion, said projection of said vehicle and said top portion of each of said blocks being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity of each of said blocks, one of said blocks removably mounted on said vehicle by fitting said projection within said cavity of said one block and permitting the remaining of said blocks to be stacked by inserting said top portion of one of said remaining blocks within said cavity of an adjacent of said remaining blocks.

2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein each of said blocks is further provided with at least one arm extending outwardly from one of said sidewalls thereof, said arm being provided with a female portion and a male portion complementary in configuration thereto permitting said male portion of said arm of one of said blocks to be inserted within said female portion of said arm of an adjacent block.

3. An amusement device as in claim 1, said projection of said vehicle being generally circular in cross section while said cavity is generally square in cross section and said top portion being generally circular in cross section terminating upwardly in a generally hemispherical portion.

4. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said sidewalls of said block is provided with a web portion extending progressively further into the interior of' said cavity so as to provide a progressively tighter fit.

5. An amusement device as in claim 2, wherein said male portion of said arm is generally cylindrical while said female portion of said arm includes inner surfaces tapered so as to provide a progressively tighter fit.

6. An amusement device as in claim 5, including a rotating wheel terminating upwardly in a generally cylindrical member complementary in configuration to said cavity of each of said blocks permitting said member to be inserted therein.

7. An amusement device as in claim 6, wherein said blocks are figurines.

8. An amusement device, comprising:

a toy vehicle, a first projection extending outwardly from said vehicle, a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks being provided at one end thereof with an opening extending inwardly defining a cavity being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said first projection permitting one of said blocks to be inserted over said first projection, each of said blocks being further provided at the end opposite said opening with a second projection generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity such that said second projection of one of said blocks may be inserted within said cavity of an adjacent block, permitting said blocks to be stacked, each of said blocks still further being provided with at least one arm extending outwardly therefrom, said arm being provided with male and female portions complementary in configuration thereto permitting said male portion of said arm of one of said blocks to be inserted within said female portion of said arm of an adjacent block permitting said blocks to be further stacked.

9. An amusement device as in claim 8, wherein said first and second projections are generally circular in cross section while said cavity is generally square in cross section.

10. An amusement device as in claim 8, wherein said toy vehicle is provided with a third projection extending outwardly therefrom, said third projection being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity of each of said blocks permitting one of said blocks to be inserted over said third projection. 

1. An amusement device, comprising: a vehicle provided with front and rear wheels, a motor, means operatively connecting one of said wheels and said motor, said vehicle further being provided with a projection, a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks being provided with sidewalls defining a cavity therebetween, the bottoms of said sidewalls defining an opening adjoining said cavity, each of said blocks further including a top portion, said projection of said vehicle and said top portion of each of said blocks being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity of each of said blocks, one of said blocks removably mounted on said vehicle by fitting said projection within said cavity of said one block and permitting the remaining of said blocks to be stacked by inserting said top portion of one of said remaining blocks within said cavity of an adjacent of said remaining blocks.
 2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein each of said blocks is further provided with at least one arm extending outwardly from one of said sidewalls thereof, said arm being provided with a female portion and a male portion complementary in configuration thereto permitting said male portion of said arm of one of said blocks to be inserted within said female portion of said arm of an adjacent block.
 3. An amusement device as in claim 1, said projection of said vehicle being generally circular in cross section while said cavity is generally square in cross section and said top portion being generally circular in cross section terminating upwardly in a generally hemispherical portion.
 4. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said sidewalls of said block is provided with a web portion extending progressively further into the interior of said cavity so as to provide a progressively tighter fit.
 5. An amusement device as in claim 2, wherein said male portion of said arm is generally cylindrical while said female portion of said arm includes inner surfaces tapered so as to provide a progressively tighter fit.
 6. An amusement device as in claim 5, including a rotating wheel terminating upwardly in a generally cylindrical member complementary in configuration to said cavity of each of said blocks permitting said member to be inserted therein.
 7. An amusement device as in claim 6, wherein said blocks are figurines.
 8. An amusement device, comprising: a toy vehicle, a first projection extending outwardly from said vehicle, a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks being provided at one end thereof with an opening extending inwardly defining a cavity being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said first projection permitting one of said blocks to be inserted over said first projection, each of said blocks being further provided at the end opposite said opening with a second projection generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity such that said second projection of one of said blocks may be inserted within said cavity of an adjacent block, permitting said blocks to be stacked, each of said blocks still further being provided with at least one arm extendIng outwardly therefrom, said arm being provided with male and female portions complementary in configuration thereto permitting said male portion of said arm of one of said blocks to be inserted within said female portion of said arm of an adjacent block permitting said blocks to be further stacked.
 9. An amusement device as in claim 8, wherein said first and second projections are generally circular in cross section while said cavity is generally square in cross section.
 10. An amusement device as in claim 8, wherein said toy vehicle is provided with a third projection extending outwardly therefrom, said third projection being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said cavity of each of said blocks permitting one of said blocks to be inserted over said third projection. 